16-inch howitzer M1920
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The 16-inch howitzer M1920 was a coastal artillery piece installed to defend major American seaports between 1922 and 1947. They were operated by the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps. They wer
16-inch howitzer M1920 at Fort Story, Virginia
Soldier with 16-inch howitzer in 1942; the muzzle markings can be read.
16-inch howitzer in the final stages of mounting
Practice loading of a 16-inch howitzer
Plunging fire
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Plunging fire is a form of indirect fire, where gunfire is fired at a trajectory to make it fall on its target from above. It is normal at the high trajectories used to attain long range, and can be u
16-inch howitzer M1920
…between 1922 and 1947. They were operated by the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps. They were installed on high-angle barbette mountings to allow plunging fire. Only four of these weapons were deployed, all at Fort Story, Virginia. All were scrapped within a few years after World War II. Around the outbreak…
Plunging fire on a warship: the steeper angle of fire allows the shell to hit the thinner deck armor